A/N: Time for the third – and guess what – LAST chapter! At this point I'd like to send gigantic thanks and hugs to all of you fantastic people who've bothered to read and review! Ok, I know that you're all just itching to know how this ends, but hang in there just for a little while longer…

Um… About the… er… cliff or whatever you like to call the thing Kai and Ray drove off from… It indeed was a small one. I couldn't exactly squash them in the flashback… (grin) It's just that my geographical vocabulary failed me. 'Suppose it's the curse of being a non-native English-speaker. (It's only good that you are being this observant, makes a writer respect you all the more.)

And about Ray's wheelchair-thing… Unfortunately, he's state really is permanent. (snif) (Btw, this was a new question.)

Most of you have probably already figured out how Ray got into the wheelchair, but now let's get answers to all the other questions…

/ " Ray? Can you hear me?".

The soft, evidently worried voice was the first thing Ray heard since the darkness had engulfed him. But… He didn't want to wake up just yet. He felt so tired, all he wanted to do was to get back into that blissful darkness…

" Sleep…", his dry lips formed, so quietly that the person sitting next to his bed barely heard.

" Oh no, you've been sleeping far too much already", the voice he still couldn't recognise told him, sounding amused. " Come on, love. Open your eyes".

His eyes slowly fluttered open, and he found Kai sitting beside him. " Hey".

Kai smiled, he felt the Phoenix stroking his hand. " Hey to you too".

As much as Ray would've wanted to relax under Kai's comforting touch, something just didn't seem right… He couldn't understand why, but all his thoughts seemed to be jumbled, it was almost impossible to think clearly. Everything was so confusing… He couldn't remember… " What happened?" he finally managed to croak, still confused.

" We had an accident", Kai told him. " This is hospital. You've been in a coma for three weeks".

Ray frowned as he studied Kai's face. " Are you okay?".

Kai smiled, stroking his hand again. " Yeah. All I got was a concussion".

Relieved, Ray nodded. All begun to make sense now. He remembered the accident, the car driving off the road, the horrible sound of metal crushing… But he could see from Kai's eyes that the Russian wasn't telling him everything.

Still feeling confused, he pushed himself up, then rubbed his face with one hand as his head protested against the sudden movement.

" Ray, you should lie down!" Kai warned him.

He smiled at his loved one. " Since when has Kai Hiwatari been babying people?".

All of a sudden, his senses warned him that something was wrong. Something wasn't the way it was supposed to be. Before he could even think about it, his hand had made its way to another one his legs – and he immediately let out a loudest gaps he'd ever made. The touch… He couldn't feel it… His legs wouldn't feel a thing.

Oh my God…

He looked at Kai, eyes widened with terror, and saw a pained look upon the Phoenix's face. He didn't even notice how hard he was shivering as he pointed towards his legs. " Explain. Now!". /

Ray's heart had never been pounding the way it did when he approached the reception of the hospital, followed by Max and Bria whose terror didn't come even close to his.

" Excuse me?" he called, voice small and shaky.

The woman that easily gave an impression of a rat looked at him almost evilly from behind her huge glasses. " Yes?" her voice croaked.

" I'm looking for Kai Hiwatari. He… He was brought here two hours ago".

" Are you a relative?".

Ray felt his cheeks blush madly. " A f-fiancé", he muttered, unable to understand why he felt so embarrassed by the word.

There was a hint of disgust in the woman's eyes as she gave him a brief look before typing on her computer. She was obviously about to say something rather nasty when another, much more pleasant voice prevented her. " Are you by any chance Ray Kon?".

Turning his wheelchair, Ray saw a young doctor in about her late twenties. She was a latino, her long dark hair on a ponytail, and the gaze of her midnight-brown eyes locked questionably to him.

He nodded, frowning slightly. " Yeah. How did you know?".

" I'm Dr. Carla Stokes, Kai's doctor", she introduced herself. " Before he lost consciousness, Kai gave the paramedics your name. We thought you might be someone important to him. That's why we searched out your cell-phone number".

Ray's heart seemed to turn into ice by one of the words. Thankfully Max spoke so he didn't have to voice the inevitable question. " Lost consciousness?". The blonde's voice was deep and small, much unlike the one his friends were accustomed to.

Dr. Stokes sighed. " I'm sorry, but unfortunately the head-injury and blood-loss caused Kai to fall into unconsciousness". She kept a short pause, allowing them the swallow the harsh information. " We are worried that he might slip into a coma".

Ray's hands were shaking uncontrollably as he covered his face with them, letting out a small, barely audible cry. " Oh my God…".

Not knowing what else to do to ease his friend's pain, Max placed his hand comfortingly onto Ray's shoulder, his own tears spilling. Looking at the two, Bria realised that she'd have to be the one doing the talking. " How… how is he doing?" she asked quietly, rubbing Max's back soothingly. " What are the…?". She couldn't finish.

" Along with the head-injury, he has a broken arm and possibly some internal injuries we haven't been able to get our hands on". Dr. Stokes sighed. " It's much too early to predict anything. We'll just have to see if he makes it through tonight".

/ Ray had a small smile upon his face as he looked at all his friends celebrating and having fun.

It was two weeks earlier when Tyson and Hilary had announced their engagement. Now the two were throwing a huge party.

It seemed Ray was the only one who wasn't completely having fun. The others were dancing, and now that Kai had gone to use the bathroom he was left sitting alone in his wheelchair. He wasn't feeling sorry for himself or anything, no, just… feeling like he was a part of the decoration.

A smile, however, made its way to his lips as he saw Kai approaching him. As the Russian got to him they exchanged a soft, loving kiss. " Missed me?" Kai inquired as the kiss ended.

He snickered. " Don't think too highly of yourself".

As Kai sat onto a chair beside him, holding his hand, he suddenly realised something. That was what Kai had been forced to do all night. Not that the Phoenix had minded, but… Ray suddenly understood that he'd been selfish. Even tough he was combined into a wheelchair, it didn't mean that Kai should've been tied up too. And as he saw Tala on the dance-floor, he decided that this was a perfect chance to show Kai that he did trust him. " You should go there", he announced. " Or no, I order you to go there and have some fun".

Kai gave him a quick look with a frown. " You sure?".

He nodded, smiling. " Yeah. Go. At least another one of us has to dance tonight".

Kai gave him a chaste kiss. " I'll be back soon, 'k?".

" Go!".

As Ray watched Kai's distancing back, he couldn't help feeling a bang in his chest, and it grew ten times worse when he saw his boyfriend dancing nearby Tala. It was almost unbearable to look as Tala's hands wrapped themselves around Kai's waist, and the two begun to move in perfect sync.

Ray knew for a fact that there was nothing more to it, Kai would never cheat on him. That much he'd learned to know during their long therapy-sessions.

But still… He couldn't stop himself from wondering.

Life with him would always restrain Kai. That was a fact they'd talked about for several times.

But with Tala… Kai could've been free. And he knew very well how much Kai loved freedom.

Who was Ray to take it away from the one he loved? /

Ray didn't know for how long he'd been simply crying, too paralysed and shocked to do anything else, when he heard Dr. Stokes' soft voice speaking to him. " Ray… Just before he slipped into unconsciousness, Kai left something to the paramedics. Something he wanted them to give to you if you would show up".

With great might, Ray managed to fight back the tears and, hands still trembling, wiped his wet cheeks. " Y – yeah?".

After searching through her pockets for a while, Dr. Stokes handed something towards him. " He said this belongs to you".

Taking the thing onto his outstretched hand, Ray let out a loud gasp and new tears immediately begun rolling as he recognised the familiar ring. " Kai…", he whispered, stroking the surface of the ring with his one finger, shivering like never before in his life.

At that moment, the immense weight of the situation became too much for him. Ever since he'd left Kai, he'd been balancing on the edge of braking down. But now, his limit of endurance had been crossed. Kai being hurt, all the pain and memories coming back to him by this single ring… He just couldn't take it.

Feeling like his head had been about to blow up, he hid the ring into his pocket and then abruptly turned his wheelchair, prepared to storm out. " Ray, what are you doing?" he heard Max ask, the man's voice confused.

" I… I need some fresh air, okay? I… I need to think", he muttered, just and just able to speak through his tears.

Before Max had even the chance to think of replying, he was out, not even noticing the pouring rain washing over him. He felt like his entire world had been falling apart as he stopped his wheelchair a small distance from the door, becoming drenched wet in a matter of seconds.

The people passing by gave him looks of pity as he begun sobbing hysterically, completely loosing control over himself, and buried his face to his hands.

/ The more days passed from Tyson and Hilary's engagement-party, the more tension there seemed to form between Ray and Kai.

The fights they'd thought were behind them had came back, more vicious than ever, and they both knew that it was all about frustration. After the party and his painful realisation, Ray found himself frustrated when he couldn't bring himself into telling Kai how he felt, how scared he was of the idea that he was restraining the one he loved the most. And while Ray became more and more silent by each day, Kai became frustrated as he couldn't understand what was wrong with his love.

As Ray dialled the numbers of his cell-phone, barely managing to hold back his tears, the things said in an argument just taken place echoed in his mind.

" No Kai, you don't understand! You could never understand!".

" Well how am I supposed to when you don't even talk to me anymore! Do you have any idea of how much it hurts? Stop pushing me away! I want to know what's wrong, Ray! I want to fix things, but I can't do it alone!".

" Well, perhaps some things are not meant to be fixed".

Ray shook the painful memories away as the one he'd called answered. " Hello?".

" Hi Max, it's me". His voice sounded strange even in his own ears.

" Ray? Is something wrong?".

With those words, the first tears made their way to Ray's cheeks. " Y – yeah…". He sniffed. " I… I'm leaving Kai".

Max made a loud gasp. " What! Ray…".

" Can I come and stay with you for some time? At least until… until I've sorted out my head?". He sniffed again. " Please?".

Max sighed. " Okay. But we're gonna do some serious talking when you get here".

" 'K. Thanks". With that Ray hang up, surrendering to his tears. /

A flood of memories filled Ray's mind, and the burning-hot tears begun to roll even harder as he was stunned to notice that not even nearly all of the memories were dark.

He hated himself all of a sudden for not being inside, sitting by Kai's bed as he knew Max and Bria would probably be doing as soon as they'd get in. He was the one who loved Kai the most, damnit! So what was he doing there outside?

He knew the answer, no matter how little he liked it.

A part of him didn't want to go inside, face Kai again. Because he knew that if he would, he'd never be able to leave again.

All of a sudden sounds of approaching steps reached his ears, followed by a familiar voice. " Here you are". An umbrella was placed to cover him from the rain, although he was already soaked wet. " You should come inside. You'll catch a cold".

He turned his head slowly, and for a smallest moment he felt his heartbeat quicken as he stared into breathtaking, fiery pools of auburn. But the illusion soon faded, allowing him to see Max's blue, worry-filled eyes. " I… I'm not sure…", he whispered, turning his gaze away from Max, tears still rolling.

" I understand", Max reassured him. For a longest time silence lingered over them as they drifted into their own thoughts. Eventually Max spoke out. " Look, I'm going inside, 'k? Dr. Stokes just ran some tests, she might have something new to tell". Max paused for a while. " If you feel like coming too, Kai's room-number is 329".

He nodded and looked at Max, giving a pathetic attempt of a smile through his tears. " Okay. Thanks".

For a while Max stood still, looking at him, obviously debuting whether to leave or not. Once realising that there was nothing he could do to help Ray, the blonde turned around and slowly walked away.

As soon as Max was gone, Ray once again buried his face to his hands, tears mixing with rain-water.

/ Two days after his phone-call to Max, Ray was writing a letter to Kai, tear spilling in an endless flow.

Dear Kai,

I know that you'll think this was a rash decision, something I'll regret as soon as the deed is done. But this time, that's not the case, for I've been thinking about this for a long time now. I'm leaving, but before I do, I think you deserve an explanation.

We've worked so hard and for so long to make things work between us that this feels almost like waste, but in my heart, I know that this isn't. No matter how much we love each other and want to be together, it just won't work.

I'm so tired, Kai. Of all these stupid arguments, of having to apologise all the time, of constantly being on my toes… I can't live like this for the rest of my life, and I can't force you to do so either. I love you too much for that.

I wish I could ask you not to hate me for this, but I can't. I know you, and I know that you'll never understand why I did this. You are too stubborn to admit when the battle is through. That's one of the reasons I fell in love with you. So it has to be me who admits the loss and walks away, no matter how much it hurts. I have to give us both a chance to live without getting hurt.

I'm sorry that I have to hurt you this one last time, but it's for the sake of us both. I hope that even if you wouldn't be able to forgive me, you would respect my decision enough not to question it.

Goodbye. I wish we could've made it.

- Ray

Just a stupid letter that didn't cover even half of the full truth, but that was all Ray could give Kai. What a lousy way to end something that had meant so much for the both of them.

Trying to no avail suppress his tears, Ray put letter into an envelope, then turned his wheelchair and made his way to Kai, who was sleeping serenely in the bed. Tears still spilling, he carefully placed the envelope to the pillow that would've normally been occupied by his head, then gave in to the temptation and placed a small, feather-light kiss onto Kai's cheek. " Goodbye. I'm sorry", he whispered into Kai's ear.

After guarding Kai's peaceful sleep for a while, not even bothering to hold back tears, he eventually turned his wheelchair, deciding that he'd have to leave or he'd never get it done. With that thought he disappeared like he'd been just a dream to Kai.

And the only thing proving he'd really been there was the letter that shone in the moonlight. /

Hours had probably passed until Ray finally got the most of his tears cried out and the sobs begun to subside, leaving a hiccup that made him feel like a five-year-old.

It wasn't until then he remembered the ring, and immediately begun to search for it. He was just about to panic, thinking he'd lost it, when his fingers met cold metal and he fished out the beautiful sign of promise. Holding it onto the palm of his hand, he couldn't help but become stunned by the way the few lights of night danced on its delicate surface, making it shine magnificently.

Sighing deeply, he squeezed his eyes tightly shut, letting his thoughts whirr.

What was he supposed to do? If he would go back inside, it would mean going back to the life he'd had with Kai, beginning the entire ride all over again. And despite the fact the he loved Kai, he wasn't sure if he was ready to bear such pain anymore. Besides, hadn't he left to keep Kai from being stuck with him for the rest of his life, to let Kai have a life that for once wouldn't be filled with deprivation?

But… Kai needed him, now probably more than ever before. And… What if Kai would never wake up? If… if the unthinkable was to happen, would he ever be able to forgive himself for never being there for the one he loved the most? Gods, he wanted to be by Kai's side, wanted to so much. But he wasn't sure if either one of them was ready to pay the price.

So many questions. So many questions he wouldn't find answers to without seeing the game until the bitter end. Suddenly he almost wished that Max would've forced him to make up his mind to one way or another: he was just too confused to make such an important decision. And this time, he couldn't make a mistake.

The rain had already stopped when Ray finally opened his golden eyes that were filled with determination and squeezed his hand tightly around the ring.

He had made up his mind.

/ There was an irony taste of blood in Kai's mouth as he finally completed his long run, noticing that he'd came back to his mansion. Slowly walking towards the door, he was unable to keep his thoughts under control.

It'd been eight days from when he'd woken up to find Ray's letter of goodbye. Ever since he'd been doing these running-exercises, each day going further and faster, almost like he'd been possessed. But no matter how far or fast he ran, no amount of physical pain and exhaustion could wipe Ray's face out of his mind.

Once inside, he noticed that there were two new messages in his answering-machine. He pushed the button carelessly and listened only absently while walking into kitchen to get a glass of water.

" Hey, it's me". The deeply worried voice that spoke in Russian belonged to Tala. Since Ray had left, Tala had been calling and stopping by constantly, using every excuse imaginable to contact him. Although Kai understood that the other was worried and wanted to give him support, he still would've preferred being left alone. " I see you're not at home, so… Call me, 'k? Bye".

The second message made the water Kai was slowly gulping down stuck into his throat.

" Kai, it's Max". The young man paused. " Look, I'm not sure if this is the right thing to do, but I don't think I have any other choice". There was loud sigh. " Ray came here about a week ago, after he left you, and… I'm really worried about him". Another pause. " I don't know what happened between the two of you – I've asked, but Ray won't tell me anything – but… Please, you've gotta come here, because if you don't…". Max gulped. " If you don't come, I don't know what he'll do". Max sighed again, exhaustedly, sounding like a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders. " Look, this is my last resort. I… I don't want to betray Ray's trust but… I don't think he can live without you". The one minute's time to leave the message was almost up. " Come here, okay?".

As the message ended, Kai stood still for a full minute, Max's desperate words ringing in his ears, eyes widened and heart racing unlike after any amount of running. Eventually he gained back his ability move, and was by the phone faster than he'd ever moved, dialling numbers. It seemed to take forever before there was an answer. " Hi, I'd like to book a ticket for the next possible flight to New York…". /

When Kai slowly begun to inch his eyelids that seemed to weight a ton, he let out a silent groan as the far too bright rays of sun attacked them.

Too bright… He couldn't see… Everything was so hazy and disoriented…

Letting his eyes adjust to the light, he tried to clear his tangled thoughts. It was almost impossible to think straight… Where was he? What had happened?

Then it struck on him. There had been an accident, a car driving recklessly… So… Was he in a hospital, then? The beeping that just then came to his ears confirmed this assumption.

Panic hit him like a tidal-wave. He'd always hated hospitals. For how long had he spent here? And why did his head feel like it'd been struck by a sledgehammer?

The panicked thoughts, however, were washed away in a matter of seconds as another sound, much more pleasant one, reached his ears.

Purring?

His heart skipped a beat. There was only one person he knew who could purr… His vision almost perfectly clear, he slowly moved his head, afraid that he wouldn't see what he wanted to so much. A small, tired smile graced his lips as the sight greeted him.

Ray was sitting – or sleeping, actually – beside his bed, holding his good hand with both hands, almost like fearing that should the hold break, Kai might vanish. The Tiger's head had fallen to rest on Kai's abdomen, causing some stubborn raven blocks to stray carelessly. Although Ray was sleeping then, the huge, black bags underneath the neko-jin's eyes and the unnaturally pale skin told that he'd been doing so far too little lately. When Kai slowly moved his gaze to Ray's hand, his smile widened slightly as he noticed the ring on the Tiger's finger.

It took just about all his willpower not to reach out his hand and touch Ray, but he decided that the other needed sleep, and he wasn't exactly in the condition to start the long, serious discussion they needed to have either. Therefore he slowly leaned his head back to the pillows and, after taking one more look at Ray, allowed his eyes to slip shut. The smile still remained on his lips as he drifted into peaceful sleep.

End.

A/N: YIPPEE! Over! Done! Finished!

You know, I was an inch from making this a death-fic, but changed my mind when I figured that you would've probably slaughtered me for it. Another option was to make this classical soap-opera scene where Kai would've woken up and asked Ray 'Who the heck are you?', but… Well, I eventually decided not to make it such.

Anyways, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading this story! I hope you liked this last chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Now, towards the unknown! Bye!